Combination vibrator and mixer unit



June 21, 1932. T. H. FORDE ET AL 1,863,977

COMBINATION VIBRATOR AND MIXER UNIT Filed June 18, 1929 INVENTORS. THOMAS H. FORDE BY NEWTON W [EA/LS 7H5? ATTORNEY.

Patented June 21, 1932 PATENT OFFICE THOMAS H. FORDE AND NEWTON W. MELLARS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO FOBMELL COBPORATION, LTD., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPQRATIQN OF CALZFORNEA COMBINATION VIBRATOR AND MIXER UNIT Application filed. June 18,

This invention relates to improvements. in devices for mixing and vibrating compositions of matter in the preparation thereof for use and more particularly to a combined vibrator and mixer unit for vtreating dental investment compounds and other plastic substances used in the practice of dentistry.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination device of the character described which, as a single, simply constructed, comparatively'small and compact unit, will facilitate the mixing and dcaeration of investment compounds and other dental plastic substances.v

-Another object of the invention is to provide a combination vibrator and mixer unit of the character described in which the mixing andrvibrating meansare simultaneously actuated from a common operating shaft to provide for simplicity of structure and arrangement as well as to minimize the number of working parts and permit of a simultaneous mixing and vibrating of the substances to be treated. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination mixer and vibrator of the character described in which .the mixing and vibrating mechanisms are closely related in a compact arrangement to provide for a convenient use of either orboth of said mechtion of said substance.

' to provide a novel combination of the mixing and vibrating mechanisms with a common operating shaft and motor therefor in a com- 1929. Serial No. 371,753.

pact arrangement which permits of ready ac-' cess to either mechanism.

This invention also resides in the provision ofa novel and effective vibrating table and mounting means therefor which make for high speed vibrations and the effective transmission of such vibrations to the material under treatment. I

Yet another object is to provide an improved means for easily and effectively maintaining containers of different sizes with the substance to be treated therein, in proper 0perative relation to the mixer mechanism as well as the vibrator mechanism.

Theinvention possesses other objects and features of'advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming partof the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth'in the claims.

Referring to the. drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of thedevice of this invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken'on the plane of line 2-.-2 of Figure 1. f

Figure 3 is a bottom lplan view of apart of the mixer. I

One embodiment of :this invention, as shownin detail in the accompanying drawing, generally comprises an operating shaft which atits respective terminals is connected with and operates agitating mechanisms, which latter include means for maintaining receptacles containing the substances to be treated in operative relation to said agitating mechanisms. anisms servesas a mixing device whereas the other serves as a vibrator which deaerates the mixture or substance placed in operative relation thereto. Thus it will be seen that provision is made for mixing dental invest- One of the agitating mech and used with an economy of space and operating cost and wherein the mixing and vibrating mechanisms are subject to convenient use either simultaneously or separately.

The presentembodiment of the invention is comprised of-an electric motor which is carried by a bracket 6 that may beattached to a suitable support not shown. The motor has a shaft 7 which extends from upper and lower sides thereof. Connected with and operated by the upper end of this shaft is an agitating mechanismS which produces high speed vibrations and serves as a vibrator. Another agitating means 9, and which acts as a mixer, is connected with and operatedby the lower end ofthe motor shaft. Receptacles and -10a, as shown in fulllines at the lower end of the device and in dotted lines at the upper endof the device,

are provided to contain the compositions of matter to be treated. The receptacle 10 is preferably flexible and usually made of rubber to facilitate the application thereof to 'the mach'ineaswill be later morefully described.

The agitating means-8 1s designed to trans- -mit' high speed vibrations to the substance -placed inoperative relation thereto in the reby the-'motor.

ceptacle 10a. *As hereshown, this means 7 comprises a vibratory shaft 12 flexibly supported in a cone-shaped housing 13 which latter extends upwardly from and is carried This shaft is connected with the motor shaft by an eccentrically arranged balland socket. joint, in which the socket 15 is carried by the motor shaft in off center relation thereto'and the ball member 16 is carried on the lower end of said vibrator shaft. The vibrator shaft extends beyond the housing 13 and at its outer end is pro' Vided with means for maintaining the receptacle 10a in position to be vibrated thereby.

This means is in the form of a plate-like table 17 suitablysecured to the outer end of said vibrator shaft. A spiral spring 18 en gagesbetween -a'shaft carried abutment 19 and a supporting member 20 in the housing 13 and thereby resiliently supports the vibrator "shaft and table. 'This spring takes the or orbital paths.

weight of the vibratoroff the ball and socket joint 'and therefore provides for the un -dampenedtransmission of the high speed vibration.

The abutment 19 on the vibrator shaft seats against the inner side of the outer end of the housing 13 in such manner thatsaid shaft will fulcrum at the point of said seat while its ends-describe substantially circular Therefore the table 17 on the outer end of the vibrator shaft is given a swift, swirling or gyratory movement which produces highly effectivevibrations for causing deaeration of plastic or other dental compoundsplaced on said table for treatment.

tor shaft.

The agitating means on the lower end of the motor shaft is arranged to provide a thorough mixing action with a rotary movement of mixing vanes or blades 22 and 23 which are fixed to an extension'24 of the mo- This extension 24 passes through a housing 25 similar to the housing 13 and which depends from the lower side of the motor. The housing terminates well spaced above that part of the extension shaft 24 on which the mixing blades are mounted whereby said blades may be disposed with the receptacle'lOin position to mix the material contained in said receptacle.

Means is provided to facilitate the placing and maintaining of the: receptacle in operative relation to the: mixer. As here. shown, this means comprisesa circular plate 26 secured by fastenings 27 to the lowerend of the-housing 25. A thrust bearing 28 for the shaft 24 is provided on the inner side of said plate 26. On the outer side of the plate *around the :margin thereof :is adepending flange 29 which cooperates with asimilar fiange 30 to provide a receptacle holding space between the flanges. Thus the receptacle is disposed with its upper edge engaged and held between saidfianges to maintain the receptacle in proper relation. to the mixer. Another flange 31 spaced inwardly from the-flange-3O provides for-accommodating smaller receptacles. This means permits of a quick positioning of thereceptacle I against the plate 26-and enables the operator to easily and accuratelyhold the receptacle in proper relation to the mixer.

I may provide a shield 33 as shown in' Figure 1 to prevent the compounds or materials being mixed in the receptacle 10 from getting into and around the bearing 28 as well as collecting on the bottom of the plate 26. A disk 34 fixedon and rotating with the shaft extension 24 may also be'employed toprevent accumulation of material-on theplate 26 and shaft 24, said disk tending to deflect-outward and-downward the material thrownagainst it during operation of the mixer.

A silencer pad-35 may be provided on the table 17 to preventnoises which would otherwise be made during vibration of the recepshafts providing for vibration of the vibrator shaft on rotation of the other shaft, and a vibrator table fixed to said vibrator shaft.

2. In a "device of the 'characterdescribed a motor, a support therefor, a motor shaft extending above and below the motor, a mixer means supported on the lower end of and arranged to rotate with said shaft, a non-rotating vibrator shaft extending from and supported on the upper end of said motor shaft, an eccentric joint between said shafts providing for vibration of the vibrator shaft on rotation of the motor shaft, a vibrator table fixed on said vibrator shaft, a housing extending upwardly from said motor, expansion spring connection between said hous ing and vibrator shaft providing for flexibly supporting the latter in upright position, a housing extending downwardly from the motor, a plate carried by said housing and arranged to be engaged with a receptacle containing the material to be mixed to dispose the receptacle in operative relation to said mixer means. I

3. In a device of the character described, a motor, a support therefor, a motor shaft extending from upper and lower sides of the motor, a mixer -means connected and arranged to rotate with the lower end of said shaft, a non-rotatable vibrator shaft operatively connected with the upper end of said shaft, means of connection between said vibrator and motor shafts providing for vibration of the vibrator shaft on rotation of the motor shaft, a vibrator table on said vibrator shaft, a housing for the motor and said shafts, resilient means of connection between said housing and said vibrator shaft providing for flexibly supporting the vibrator shaft, and bearing means carried by said housing for the portion of the shaft below said motor.

4. In apparatus of the character described,

an upright rotary operating shaft, a support and drive means for and disposed between the ends of said shaft, an agitating member adapted for vibratory movement positioned above said shaft, means provided with a universal joint connecting said member in offset relation with said rotary shaft adjacent the upper end thereof, and a rotary agitating means disposed at and operated at the lower end of said shaft.

' In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at San Francisco, California, this 7th day of June, 1929.

THOMAS H. FORDE. NEWTON W. M'ELLARS. 

